Two new Path-Finding Projects initiated

July 14th, 2015

The Netherlands eScience Center is pleased to announce the initiation of two new Path-Finding Projects. The projects are intended to provide the opportunity to rapidly meet short-term scientific challenges, serve as a pilot for future research projects, address immediate technological goals, or investigate the potential to initiate larger projects.

The two projects result from the July Open Call for Path-Finding Projects. Path-Finding Project proposals can be submitted at any time. NLeSC funds projects by the direct provision of cash and the in kind provision of eScience Research Engineers.

Aerial imagery over urban areas is increasingly being used to provide detailed imagery and 3D models to support many applications such as map updating, urban planning and water management. The size of such photogrammetric projects is increasing rapidly, causing a scramble for hardware with more memory and processing power. Nowadays, the need of high performance hardware represents one of the main bottlenecks in the development of efficient automated applications exploiting photogrammetry over large areas.

This Path-Finding Project aims at implementing three tools for the processing of large datasets to enable these to run on consumer-grade computers.

The following tools will be developed and integrated in the open-source MicMac library: (i) a tool for the optimal reduction of the tie-points used in the image orientation process; (ii) a graphical interface to collect manual tie-points in the critical parts of large and irregular image blocks; (iii) a tool for the optimal selection of a subset of images from large datasets. Two different datasets will be used for the validation of the implemented tools. The first dataset is a large set of high-resolution UAV images. The second will be a big aerial image block to evaluate the photogrammetric pipeline feasibility for region/national 3D models updating.

Real-time detection of neutrinos from the distant UniverseDr. Dorothea SamtlebenLeiden University

A new era in the exploration of the Universe has begun with the recent discovery of high-energetic extraterrestrial neutrinos. With the KM3NeT neutrino telescope that is under construction in the Mediterranean Sea one can fully exploit this new opportunity. Light created by particles in neutrino interactions in the Earth or Water is collected with a large 3-dimensional grid of sensitive photo detectors. All data are transferred to shore for further processing. Fast filtering is essential to allow data storage.

Current algorithms focus on the selection of specific signatures in the hit correlations which are expected from high energetic interactions. The efficiency is limited by the use of the available computing power.

An accurate online reconstruction of the detailed event properties like the direction and energy of the neutrino candidates can significantly enhance the efficiency and also allow to optimally provide useful triggers to other astronomical facilities like optical or gamma ray observatories. In this project, the path towards real-time processing will be developed.